Cut tree or artificial tree stand with chain latching mechanism

Abstract

A stand for supporting and displaying cut trees includes a closed hexagonal base having three upwardly and inwardly projecting legs that converge in about the center of the hexagonal base and that support a V-shaped cradle having upper and lower cradle arms that contact the tree trunk on two sides at both an upper location and at a lower location. A chain latching mechanism tightly fastens a chain about the circumference of the tree at a location between the upper and lower cradle arms.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cut tree stand comprising: a. a base comprising a plurality of members connected to form a closed polygon;   b. a plurality of legs extending upwardly and inwardly of a perimeter of said base, each said leg having a lower end connected to said base;   c. a V-shaped cradle attached to an upper end of each said leg, said V-shaped cradle further comprising a plurality of superposed upper and lower cradle arms for contacting the trunk of a cut tree; and   d. means for securing the tree trunk to said cradle connected to said V-shaped cradle.   
     
     
       2. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said upper cradle arm further comprises a portion of one said leg. 
     
     
       3. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said lower cradle arm further comprises a V-rod connected in depending relationship to one said leg. 
     
     
       4. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 1 wherein said V-shaped cradle further comprises two upper cradle arms perpendicular to one another and fixed together at one end to form an upper cradle arm joint and two lower cradle arms perpendicular to one another and fixed together at one end to form a lower cradle arm joint. 
     
     
       5. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 4 wherein said V-shaped cradle further comprises a vertical rod connected to an upper portion of one said leg and to said lower cradle arm joint. 
     
     
       6. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 5 wherein said trunk securing means further comprises a coil spring latching mechanism comprising a coil spring mounted on a hook portion of said vertical rod, a chain hooking portion and a spring tension latching member. 
     
     
       7. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 6 wherein said chain is secured to a groove in said hook portion of said vertical rod. 
     
     
       8. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 5 wherein said upper cradle arms and said lower cradle arms each lie in a separate plane and both said planes are parallel to the plane of said base. 
     
     
       9. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 1 wherein said base comprises a regular hexagon. 
     
     
       10. A cut tree stand comprising: a. a base comprising a plurality of members connected to form a closed polygon;   b. a plurality of legs extending upwardly and inwardly of a perimeter of said base, each said leg having a lower end connected to said base;   c. a V-shaped cradle attached to an upper end of each said leg, said V-shaped cradle further comprising two lower cradle arms and two superposed upper cradle arms for contacting the trunk of a cut tree along four discrete lines; and   d. means for securing the tree trunk to said cradle connected to said cradle.   
     
     
       11. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 10 wherein said upper cradle arms and said lower cradle arms further comprise rods. 
     
     
       12. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 10 wherein said base further comprises a regular hexagon. 
     
     
       13. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 10 further comprising three said legs. 
     
     
       14. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 10 wherein said V-shaped cradle further comprises two upper cradle arms perpendicular to one another and fixed together at one end to form an upper cradle arm joint and two lower cradle arms perpendicular to one another and fixed together at one end to form a lower cradle arm joint and a vertical rod connected to an upper portion cent to said upper arm cradle joint and to said lower cradle arm joint. 
     
     
       15. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 14 wherein said trunk securing means further comprises a coil spring latching mechanism comprising a coil spring mounted on a hook portion of said vertical rod, a chain hooking portion and a spring tension latching member and said chain is secured to a groove in said hook portion of said vertical rod at a location below the location of said coil spring, whereby said chain retains said coil spring latching mechanism on said vertical rod. 
     
     
       16. A cut tree stand comprising: a. a base comprising a plurality of members connected to form a regular hexagon;   b. a plurality of legs extending upwardly and inwardly of a perimeter of said base, each said leg having a lower end connected to said base;   c. a V-shaped cradle attached to an upper end of each said leg, said V-shaped cradle further comprising two lower cradle arms perpendicular to one another and joined together at one end of each said lower cradle arm forming a lower cradle arm joint and two superposed upper cradle arms joined together at one end of each said upper cradle arm forming an upper cradle arm joint for contacting the trunk of a cut tree along four discrete lines and a vertical rod connected to said lower cradle arm joint and to an upper portion of one said leg adjacent to said upper cradle arm joint; and   d. a coil spring latching mechanism comprising a coil spring mounted on a hook portion of said vertical rod, a chain hooking portion and a spring tension latching member and said chain is secured to a groove in said hook portion of said vertical rod at a location below the location of said coil spring, whereby said chain retains said coil spring latching mechanism on said vertical rod.   
     
     
       17. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 16 further comprising a bowl placed under said V-shaped cradle. 
     
     
       18. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 16 wherein said coil spring latching mechanism further comprises a spring tension latching member that contacts an upward projecting portion of a left lower cradle portion V-rod when said coil spring latching mechanism is latched. 
     
     
       19. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 18 wherein said coil spring latching mechanism further comprises a chain hooking portion extending from said coil spring. 
     
     
       20. A cut tree stand in accordance with claim 16 further comprising a plastic coated steel rod cut tree stand.